This archive report was first published on 11 January 2020.
Surviving Female Genital Mutilation ¶
Bishara Sheikh Hamo, a 25-year-old tally clerk, underwent female genital mutilation (FGM) at the age of 11. The painful experience has driven her to become an anti-FGM crusader, determined to prevent other girls from suffering the same fate.
Published on January 11, 2020
Bishara grew up in a village called Sericho in Isiolo County, where her father was a polygamist with 11 wives and 46 children. She was the last born of her mother's four kids. Bishara's family was deeply rooted in the culture of FGM, which she believed was the only way to become a woman.
On a December day in 2005, Bishara was taken from her home to an unknown place with three other girls. They were blindfolded and their hands were tied behind their backs as they lay down on a floor mat. The traditional midwife, a woman over 50, used a razor blade to perform the type II cut, also known as excision, which involves removing the clitoris and labia minora.
The procedure was followed by the application of a traditional herb called qumbi to soothe the pain. However, the pain only intensified when Bishara was made to sit on a hole with burning charcoal mixed with herbs. She was forced to sit on the hot charcoal every morning and evening for a week, causing her unbearable pain and discomfort.
After the procedure, Bishara experienced severe health complications, including a weak bladder, urinary problems, and irregular periods. She suffered for 13 years, trying to maintain a semblance of a normal life. In 2016, she secured a job as a berth tally clerk at the Kenya Ports Authority, but her health challenges persisted.
It wasn't until May 2018, when Bishara was admitted to a hospital in Mombasa due to acute dehydration, that she finally received the medical attention she needed. The tests revealed that she had a bladder outlet obstruction, which required an urgent operation. Bishara underwent urethral structure and blood wash (urinary dilation) and immediately after an operation.
After the operation, Bishara's health began to improve, and she was able to campaign against FGM. She formed the Bishara Hamo Foundation in 2019 to bring advocacy against FGM to her community. Bishara looks up to Janet Mbugua and Hirbo Wadere, both vocal advocates against FGM, and hopes to be remembered as an FGM fighter who prevented other girls from suffering the same fate.
